Improvement in combination locks



J. T. TAYLOR. improvement in Combination-Locks. NO 131,475. PatentedSep.17, I872.

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Uivrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACKSON T. TAYLOR, OF NEWNAN, GEORGIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN COMBINATION LOCKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 131,475, datedSeptember 17, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACKSON TJTAYLOR, of N ewnan, in the county ofGoweta and State of Georgia, have invented a new and valuableImprovement in Permutation Locks; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description of the constructionand operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawingmaking a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures ofreference marked thereon.

Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing are representations of plan views of mypermutation lock. Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional details of the same.

. This invention has relation to permutation locks; and consists in theconstruction, novel arrangement, and combination of thefollowing-described devices, to wit: First, a pair of parallel annulardisks perforated around their outer edges, notched at certain places ontheir inner edges, and secured rigidly to the lockcase, but capable ofcertain adjustment to suit the contingencies of the variouscombinations. Secondly, the lock-case having recesses, upon the rims ofwhich the said disks rest in such a manner that their inner edgesproject be yond said rims so as to leave between their inner surfacesand the surface of said cavities slight circular channels. Thirdly, arotary disk, attached to a shouldered knob-shaft, peculiarly notched andslotted on its periphery, and arranged to rotate between the twostationary disks. Fourthly, a pair of elastic jaws secured to the facesof the rotary disk, on either side of the shoulder of the knob-shaft,projecting over either side of the slot in the disk, wherein a finger onthe end of the bolt enters in opening the lock, and so adapted to theirfunctions that, during the opening of the lock, and by certainmanipulations of the bolt-shaft, the said jaws may at different periodsin the rotation of the disk be respectively pressed outward and intonotches in the stationary disks, and so brought behind the stationarydisks and there retained until the remainder of the revolution of thetoothed disk is completed; or, in other words, until the slot in saiddisk coincides with the finger on the end of the bolt, and allows saidfinger to enter.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, A represents the body and A thecovcrin g-plate of the lock-case. B represents a circular cavity in thepart 0 A,at the bottom of which is formed another cavity, b, of lessdiameter. A cavity, 1), similar to b, is formed in the plate A. G 0represent annular metallic disks secured, respectively, to the case Aand plate A, so that their inner edges project over the outer parts ofthe cavities b b. In the inner edge of each of the disks 0 G are out twonotches. d d represent the notches of the disk 0, and d (1 those of thedisk 0. Around the outer edge of each disk a row of perforations, e, orother indicators, are made. These indicators coincide with the notchesin the rotary disk. E indicates said rotary disk constructed with alarge central aperture, through which passes the knob-shaft E having ashoulder, E which fills the central aperture. F F designate two elasticjaws or tongues secured respectively to the faces of the rotary disk andprojecting on either side of a radial slot, G, cut

from the periphery of said disk. The knobshaft fits the lock-caseloosely, and when moved laterally causes the shoulder E to actalternately on the tongues F F and to spread them apart from each other.The periphery of the disk E is supplied with beveled teeth, upon which7,

acts a spring, H, the click of which may be heard as the disk isrotated. At the distance of about five of said teeth from the slot G anotch, G, occurs, occupying the space of about two teeth. The slot G isabout the width of one tooth, and the ends of the tongues beveled tocorrespond to the form of teeth, as shown in the drawing, so as to allowthe disk to pass the spring readily when the tongues come in contacttherewith. The end of said spring coincides in position with the notchcl of the disk 0; and hence, when the disk E is so turned that the notchG receives the end of the spring the two notches coincide. This may becalled the starting point in opening the look. I designates a slidingbolt opera-ted by the shaft J, which is furnished with an arm or lug, K,which enters a recess, K, in the lock. The shaft J is provided withknobs by the turning of which the bolt is moved back. The bolt is movedforward by the force of a spiral spring, L. On the rear end of said boltis a fin ger-projection, M, adapted to enter the slot Gwhen the propermanipulation of the lock has taken place, to enable the bolt to bewithdrawn.

The operatoin of the lock is as follows: The

starting point being attained, of which the operator will be sensiblefrom feeling, the disk is turned the distance of three notches or teeth.The knob-sh aft is then moved laterally to the left which causes theshoulder thereon to raise the jaw or tongue F into the notch 61 Theknob-shaft is then turned the distance of three more teeth, (the tongueF moving underneath the projecting edge of the disk 0,) and the shaftmoved laterally to the right, causing the tongue F to enter the notch alThe shaft is now turned the distance of sixteen teeth, (both tonguesbeing spread out or apart,) which brings the slot G to the bolt-fingerM. and allows the bolt to be withdrawn.

According to the above-described manipula' tion the combination may betermed 3 3 16.

Other combinations maybe produced bychangin g the positions of the diskswith reference to the starting point, so that the tongues F F may becaused to enter their appropriate notches at various periods.

The number of holes from the starting point of each stationary disk tothe notch designed for the admission of the spring tongue, less thenumber of teeth from the starting point to the slot G of the rotatingdisk, indicates the numbers to which the disks are set and the number ofteeth from the starting point to the point of opening, less the numberof teeth from the starting point to the slot of the rotary diskindicates the number to which the disk is set. The notches in thestationary disks are purposely made of irregular form to prevent thesame from being felt' for by persons in ignorance of the combination.

When this look is applied to the door of a room, a catch, such asrepresented in Fig. 3, should be attached to the door-j amb.- This catchconsists of the rectangular casing N, having a movable slide, a, infront, constructed with side flanges fitting grooves Din the walls ofthe casing N. Behind said slide is a spring N, which presses it forwardin position to receive behind it the end of the bolt, to which, (bothbeing beveled,) it yields when struck or pressed upon. This catch is onthe inside of the jamb, and is'of the peculiar construction described sothat a person inside the room may, by pul1- ing back the slide, releasethe bolt, and thus obviate the necessity of otherwise manipulating thelock according to the complex method required by the combination.

A detachable key may be substituted for the knob-shaft which operatesthe bolt, and the latter manipulated the same as an ordinary bolt, thecombination devices being at rest.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. The improved lock having the'rotary disk E, slotted to receive aprojection on the end of the bolt, provided with the yielding elastictongues F F loosely applied to the shaft having the shoulder part E andadapted to work in connection with the notched disks 0 C, substantiallyas specified.

2. The annular disks 0 C having the notches d d adapted to receive atdiiferent periods the tongues F F of the rotary slotted disk E, andhaving the notches d d toenable said tongues to escape, substantially asspecified.

3. In a permutation lock the rotary toothed disk E, and the stationaryadjustable disks 0 0, having perforations or equivalent indicat orscoinciding with the teeth of the rotary disk, substantially as and forthe purpose specified.

4. The bolt I having the fin ger-projection M, and actuated through themedium of the knobshaft J and spring L, in combination with the rotarydisk E, having the slot G and elastic yielding jaws or tongues F F,substantially as specified. V

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my namein the presence of two witnesses.

JACKSON T. TAYLOR.

Witnesses:

R. A. J OHNSON, EDWARD SMITH.

